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Partygate scandal reignites as UK police probe fresh claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

LONDON — British police are investigating fresh claims of coronavirus lockdown-breaching gatherings in Westminster, in the latest twist in the Partygate scandal. The Metropolitan Police announced Tuesday that it is opening one new investigation — into a December 8, 2020 “gathering in Parliament” — and re-opening another, covering an “event in Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.”The first date is the same as a gathering reportedly attended by senior Conservative MP — and Partygate inquisitor — Bernard Jenkin, according to the Guido Fawkes website.The second date matches with a controversial “jingle and mingle” event at Conservative HQ. That event, at which party aides were pictured dancing and laughing at a time social gatherings were tightly restricted, was the subject of an exposé by the Sunday Mirror.In June, Boris Johnson — who was fined for his own COVID-19 rule breaches and recently condemned by the Commons privileges committee fo...

Rishi Sunak still hasn’t read a three-page report condemning Boris Johnson’s allies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak has yet to read a three-page, week-old report condemning allies of Boris Johnson who attacked parliament’s privileges committee, he admitted Tuesday.Seven Tory MPs and three Tory peers close to the former prime minister were accused last week of waging a “coordinated campaign” to interfere with the privileges committee’s own inquiry into Johnson.In their damning follow-up to that initial inquiry — which found in June that Johnson repeatedly misled parliament — the committee said the lawmakers put MPs on the committee under “improper pressure.”But in a terse exchange with the Labour MP Chris Bryant at the House of Commons liaison committee Tuesday, Sunak refused to say whether he believes Tory MPs should apologize for their comments about the committee and said he had not read the report “yet” — despite last week asking a serving minister to apologize after he was named in the report.“I’ve read the findi...

China threatens to curb mineral supply to West amid widening tech war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

BRUSSELS — Beijing is giving Europe a yellow card in a future-defining trade war.As soon as the Netherlands announced new restrictions on exports of advanced microchip machines to China on Friday, Chinese trade officials on Monday hit back with an export-control regime tantamount to threatening a ban on exports of two types of critical raw materials to unfriendly countries on national security grounds.The two minerals on Beijing’s hit list — gallium and germanium — are well-chosen, given their role in making goods like semiconductors, 5G base stations and solar panels, items that are symbolic of the European Union’s highly prioritized digital and green transitions. Both metals are considered “critical” and “strategic” by EU standards, meaning they rely on a single source and they are important to EU industries, as well as European defense needs.“In order to safeguard national security and interests, with the approval of the State Council, it is decided to impl...

Driver killed after single-car rollover crash in Falmouth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

A 70-year-old man was killed after his vehicle went off of a road and rolled into a ravine in Falmouth Tuesday morning, according to authorities.The Falmouth Police Department said the driver of a 2019 Ranger Rover had been travelling down Sippewissett Road sometime before 8 a.m. when it appeared to leave the roadway, according to a preliminary report.First responders arrived to find the vehicle resting against a tree and extricated the driver, who died of his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.Police said the 70 year old was the only occupant at the time of the crash, which is now being investigated by both Falmouth PD and Massachusetts State Police.

Palestinian attacker wounds 8 in Tel Aviv as Netanyahu signals West Bank operation could soon end

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

By MAJDI MOHAMMED and IMAD ISSEID (Associated Press)JENIN, West Bank (AP) — A Hamas militant rammed his car into a crowded Tel Aviv bus stop on Tuesday and began stabbing people, wounding eight in an attack that Palestinian armed groups said was revenge for an Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. A bystander shot and killed the attacker.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated the operation in the Jenin refugee camp, one of the most intense in the territory in nearly two decades, was winding down. But he gave no details on when it would end and vowed to carry out similar operations in the future.“At these moments we are completing the mission, and I can say that our extensive operation in Jenin is not a one-off,” during a visit to a military post on the outskirts of Jenin. “We will continue as long as necessary to cut out terrorism.”Israel struck the camp, known as a bastion of Palestinian militants, early Monday in an operat...

Woman found dead in SUV at San Ysidro mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diego police are investigating a suspicious death Monday after a woman was found dead inside a vehicle in San Ysidro.Shortly after midnight, a security guard discovered the woman inside an SUV parked at the Las Americas Premium Outlets mall located at 4400 Camino De La Plaza, SDPD said.The circumstances that led to the woman's death are still under investigation by SDPD's Homicide Unit. She was described by police as being in her 30s. Three arrested after police standoff in North County Officials said the incident is being investigated as a suspicious death. There was not any suspect information immediately available.The shopping mall is located at the last exit before the U.S.-Mexico border.

More than 700 items collected at San Diego County Fair lost and found

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- In just a few weeks, more than 700 items have been turned into the San Diego County Fair lost and found.The guest services team at the fair has seen a lot over the years, including plenty of odd items. This year perhaps the most random was a drum set seat, which was claimed.Tuesday, July 4 is the final day of the fair, but guest services will be on site Wednesday and Thursday if you need to claim a lost item.“With all these keys here, you wonder how some people can get home because they have a whole string of keys with a house key or their car remote,” said Gail Tompkins, who has worked in guest services at the fair for more than two decades. Big Bay Boom: Watch fireworks over San Diego Bay The fair has averaged about 30 lost items a day since kicking off on June 7. The items range from hats and shoes to pictures from the event.Here’s how some of the more commonly lost items break down:41 Identification cards or driver’s licenses 42 Pairs of eyeglasses 48 Se...

Decision to join Toronto a ‘no-brainer’ for newest Maple Leaf Max Domi

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

Max Domi said when the opportunity arose to join his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, the decision to sign and compete for a Stanley Cup was a “no-brainer.”Domi, 28, signed a one-year, $3-million (USD) contract with the Maple Leafs on Monday.Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Domi said he had some offers from other teams when free agency opened but was quickly drawn to Toronto.“My agent made the rounds, but when I found out Toronto was as interested as they were, it was basically a no-brainer,” Domi said. “I was willing to do whatever it took to help that process end the way we were hoping for, which is to play for the Leafs this fall.”Home ???? pic.twitter.com/xDLVtXkyKv— Max Domi (@maxdomi) July 3, 2023Max’s father, Tie Domi, is a well-known former Leaf as an original 1988 draft pick, playing 12 seasons in Toronto and 768 games in the blue and white. Max is also familiar with current Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner, as the two were teamm...

Canadians to receive one-time grocery rebate this week. How much and when?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

Some Canadians will receive a one-time grocery rebate from the federal government this week — the funds from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) aimed to help offset soaring food inflation.The new rebate was unveiled as part of the 2023 federal budget and is set to show up in eligible individuals bank accounts on July 5.The government says approximately 11 million low and modest-income households will be eligible. The one-time rebate is a similar boost to the GST rebate that the Liberals offered up last year.Any individuals or families who received a GST/HST credit in January will be eligible for the grocery rebate.The amount doled out by the CRA is based on family situations as of January 2023 and adjusted family income for 2021.Single people will receive a maximum payment of up to:$234 – no children$387 – with 1 child$467 – with 2 children$548 with 3 children$628 with 4 childrenThose who are married or have a common-law partner will receive a maximum payment of...

Alberta weekend tornado that damaged, destroyed homes rated rare, violent twister

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:55 GMT

EDMONTON — A preliminary report on a weekend tornado in central Alberta says its winds were so violent they picked up a 10-tonne farm combine and tossed it half the length of a football field.The report by the Northern Tornadoes Project rated the twister as a four on the Enhanced Fujita scale of wind-damage intensity, just one short of the maximum rating of five.The storm destroyed three homes and damaged seven more, with the only apparent injury a cut suffered by a first responder.The storm downed power lines, killed livestock, shredded trees and damaged vehicles.The report follows up on ground and drone surveys on the tornado that ripped through the rural area between the towns of Carstairs and Didsbury on Saturday afternoon.The estimated maximum wind speed was 275 km per hour along a 15-km path.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023. The Canadian Press